Valve mechanism for fluid pressure operated well pumps



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. G. GAGE In 12 enfor. flr'f illi. 6. Gc fi OriginalFiled April 10, 1931 VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED WELLPUMPS May 9, 1933. G E 1,907,951

FOR FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED Original Filed April 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented May 9,

ARTHUR G. GAGE, 02' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED WELL PUHPS Application filedApril 10, 1931, Serial No. 529,059. Renewed October 7, 1932.

This invention has to do with dee well fluid ressure operated pumps, andin the majority of its aspects relates to valvular mechamsms in pumps ofthis type.

5. Fluid pressure operated pumps ,of they present type may becharacterized as comprising a plunger or piston o erated on at least oneof its strokes by the igh pressure fluid delivered to the pump from theground level, the well li uid being discharged by the pump upwar 1y intoa standing or pumping 'column within the well pipe. I may state thatpumps typically of this character are described in United States LettersPatent No. 1,597,162 issued on August 24, 1926 'ointly to me with L. M.Kellogg and C. McWilliams and in my copending application on Oil wellpumps, Ser. No. 109,098, filed May 14, 1926. The delivery of hi hpressure operating fluid to the piston chamber is controlled b a valveor an arrangement of valves whic primarily are controlled or operated bythe plunger. Thus as the plunger nears the ends'of its strokes,

it is brought into operating connection with the valve so as to move thelatter between two positions of adjustment.

In my copending application on Valve actuating devices, Ser. No.302,737, filed August 29, 1928, I describe a mechanical It is to beunderstood that the invention broadly contemplates the use of fluidpressure from any suitable source for locking the valve in position, butin general I prefer to so lock the valve by the application of theplunger operating uid pressure thereto. In accordance with thehereinafter described preferred embodiment of the invention, theoperating fluid pressure isalternately ap lied to opposing faces on thevalve to hol the latter in its two positions of adjustment. The pressureapplied to one of the faces not exposed to operatin fluid pressure maybe either umping co umn or well pressure, but in either case thepressure will be substantially less than the operating fluid pressure soas to maintain a sufficient diflerential between the opposing pressureson the valve to securely hold the latter in position.

In the preferred form of the invention, the valve mechanism comprises ailot valve operated by the plunger, and a uid pressure actuated mastervalve controlled bythe pilot valve, both valves being held in ositionbetween intervals of operation 0 the pilot valve by the plunger, bymeans of differential fluid pressures applied to opposite ends of thevalves. Although for purposes of describing the invention I show..-

the valvular mechanism as comprising typically a plunger actuated pilotvalve and master valve controlled by the latter, it will be understoodthat the invention is not to be regarded as necessarily limited to thisparticular valve construction or arrangement. Also I show herein a typeof pum in which the plunger is operated on bot of its strokes bysuccessive amounts of hi h pressure delivered to the pump. Again t einvention, may not necessarily be limited to a pump in which the plungeris operated in the manner stated. For example it may, instead, beoperated on both of its strokes by a single uantity of actuating fluiddelivered to. t e plunger chamber during movement of the plunger in onedirection only, as described in a companion application, Ser. No.529,060 on Fluid pressure operated well pump, filed on even dateherewith.

The various objects of the invention as well as the particularities of atypical and preferred embodiment, thereof will be set forth to bestadvantage and discussed more fully in the following description. In thedescription I refer to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a medial longitudinal and developed sectional view of the pumpshowing the plunger at the limit of its down stroke,

the various valve parts and passages in the valve head being shown in asingle plane for urposes of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 showing the plunger withthe end'of its u stroke, and'the valve parts in correspon ing changedpositions; and J Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views on lines 33,4-4, 5-5, and 66 of Fi 1, illustrating the true relative positions 0 thevalves, and the ports and passages in the valve head.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the pump, generally indicated at P, iscarried on the lower end of the well pipe 10, the latter being loweredwithin the well casing, not shown, and the pump during operation beinsubmerged beneath the standing level oft e liquid in the well. The pumpcomprises an upper valve head 11 threaded on the well pipe at 10a, and alower plunger and plun er. barrel assembly section generally ind1catedat 12. The barrel assembly comprises an outer pipe or casing 13 'oinedto the valve head at 14, and a piston arrel 15 extending concentricallywithin the casing 13 and annularly spaced therefrom at 16, the pistonbarrel being similarly mounted on the valve head at 17. The lower end ofthe pump casing is closed by a tubular plug 18, carrying a dependingsleeve 19 within which the lower reduced section of the lunger operates,as will presently appear.

he lower end of the plunger barrel is s aced at 20 from the bottomclosure 18'of t e casing, in order to provide for communication betweenthe annular space 16 and the piston chamber 21.

,Within the barrel assembly is a tubular plunger, generally indicated at22, and comprising an intermediate piston section 23 and upper and lowerreduced diameter extensions 24 and 25, integral therewith, section 25having a sliding fit within sleeve 19. It will be noted that the upperplunger section 24 is of somewhat greater diameter than section 25, sothat there is provided a downwardly facing pressure area 26 on thepiston section 23 of greater area than the upwardly facing pressure area27, reasons for which will hereinafter appear. Plug 18 is formed with acentral raised area 18a in order to arrest the downward travel of theplunger at a point such that the piston section 23 will not be permittedto cover the annular opening at 20 and thereby out off communicationbetween space 16 and the piston cham- I ber 21. The plunger section 24projects upwardly within a pipe sleeve 28 supported from the lower endof the valve head by way of pipe 28a. The diameter of sleeve 28 is suchthat the upper plunger section has a substantially sliding fit therein.

It ma be mentioned at this point that during t e down stroke of theplunger, on

.into what will hereinafter be termed the pumping column.

I may state further with reference to the plunger and plunger barrelassembly, that during its up stroke, substantially the entire upper endarea of the plunger, including the area of the piston face 27 and thecross sectional area of the plunger section 24 is exposed to pumpingcolumn pressure, since both-chamber 21 above the piston and pumpingchamber 30 are in communication, through the valve head, with the columnof liquid in the well pipe. And during the down stroke of the plunger,the piston area 26 is exposed to pumping column pressure by virtue ofthe communication of chamber 21 below the piston with the column ofliquid in the well pipe, while the interior of the plunger and thepumping chamber 30 are at well pressure, since during the down strokethe well liquid is being taken upward- 1 through the plunger into saidchamber. 1317]. order to maintain substantially the same pressuredifl'erential between the high pressure operating fluid and the pumpingcolumn pressure during both strokes of the plunger, the sections 23, 24and 25 of the latter will be so proportioned as to cross sectional areathat the area of the 'piston face 26 will be to the cross sectional areaof chamber-21 plus the crosssectional area of plunger section 24, as thearea of piston face 27 is to the area of face 26.

The construction and arrangement of the plunger and plunger barrelassembly comprises no part of the. present invention, since thesefeatures of the pump are covered in my copending application, Ser. No.109,098,

referred to hereinabove.

Well liquid in pumping chamber 30 is discharged upwardly into thepumping column by way of bore 32 extending substantially through thevalve head 11, there being a check valve 33vat the upper end of bore 32which the latter is moved by fluid pressure prises a plurality of pistonsections 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d, interconnected b rod sectlons ofreduced diameter. Depen ing from the lower piston section 34d is a valveoperating rod 38 extending downwardly into the pump column chamberthrough a stufiing box sleeve 39 in the lower end of the valve bore. Themaster valve also comprises a plurality of piston sections 35a, 35b and350, interconnected by reduced diameter rod sections.

High pressure fluid, which maybe liquid or gas, but preferably a cleanfairly light oil is delivered to the pump by wa of conduit or tube 40extending downwar y within'the well pipe 10 and connecting with thevalve head at the upper end of bore 41. The latter is communicable withthe master valve bore 37 by way of ports 42 and 43, and with the pilotvalve bore 36 by way of port 29. The master valve bore is communicableat its upper and lower ends at points beyond the valve, with the pilotvalve bore by way of passage 46 and 47. Master valve bore 37communicates with space 16 between the pump barrel and the outer casing,by way of a transverse passage 50. A passage 51, leading from bore 50 tothe upper end of bore 36 above the pilot valve, serves to put the mastervalve bore in communication with the pilot valve bore. The master valvebore also communicates with chamber 21 above the piston, by way of apassage 52.

Extending transversely from a longitudinal bore 53 are ports 54, 55 andport 56, opening into the pilot and master valve bores, respectively. Atthe upper end of bore 53 opening 1nto the pumping column, is a checkvalve 57. The pilot valve bore has communication with the piston chamberat a point between the lower valve section 340? and the stufling box 39,by way of passage 58 leading to the annular space 59 between the lowerreduced diameter section 11a of the valve head and plunger barrel 15.The upper and lower ends of the master valve bore are closed by means ofplugs 60,

the latter having small extensions 61 which project into the bore adistance sufficient to arrest the travel of the valve at such pointsthat it will not close off the openings of the passages 46 and 47 intothe valve bore. The

pilot valve bore similarly is closed at itsupper end by plug 62 havingan extension 63 which is engaged by the valve to prevent and carrying apair of s aced lugs 68 and 69 which are engaged by t e spider near theends of the up and down strokes, respectively, of the plunger.

I shallnow describe the operation of the pump assuming first the plungerand valve arts to be in the positions shown in Fig. 1.

he high pressure operating fluid delivered to .bore 41 through theconduit 40 is conducted through ort 42, the master valve bore between vave sections 35a and 35b, passage 50, and to the lower end of pistonchamber 21 beneaththe piston section 23, by way of the annular space 16.The pressure so applied to the lower pressure area 27 of the plstoncauses the plunger to move on its up stroke in the position of the partsshown in Fig. 1.. The master valve is held, and substantially locked, inraised position by the differential in operating fluid and pumpingcolumn pressure applied to opposite ends of the valve. @peratin fluidpressure is ap lied to the lower en of the valve by way 0 port 29, thepilot valve bore between valve sections 34k and 340, and passage 47.Pumping column pressure is aplied to the upper end of the mastervalve ycommunication of the valve bore above the valve through passage 46, thepilot valve bore between valve sections 34a and 346 port 54 and passage53. The operating flui pressure will of course be substantially greaterthan the pumping column pressure, and the differential therebetween willbe sufiicient to hold the master valve in raised position. It may bestated at this point that as the master valve is moved from its lower toupper position, fluid in the upper endoif the valve bore is displaced topermit upward movement of the valve, into the pumping column by way ofpassage 46, port 54, and passage 53.,

The pilot valve likewise is held and substantially locked in theposition shown in Fig. 1 by the differential between the operating fluidand pumping column pressures applied to its opposite ends. Operatingfluid pressure is applied to the upper end of the valve by way of port42, the master valve bore between valve sections 35a, 356, port 50, andpassage 51. The pressure within the piston chamber above plunger section23, or in other words, pumping column pressure, isapplied to the loweren of pilot valve section 3412 by way of the annular space 59 andpassage 58. Y

During the up stroke of the plunger, the well liquid previously takeninto the pumping chamber 30 during its down stroke, is dischargedthrough bore 32 into the pumpmg column. Simultaneously, the spentactuating fluid in chamber 21 above the plunger piston section,previously utilized in movmg the plunger on its down stroke, isdischarged into the pumping column by way of space 59, port 52, themaster valve bore between valve sections 35?), 350, port 56, and passage53.

As the plunger nears the end of its up 5 stroke, spider 66 engages theupper valve rod lug 68, causing the pilot valve to be raised to theposition of Fig. 2. The master valve thereupon is thrown down-to itslower position by the application of high pressure fluid to its upperend by way of port 29, the pilot valve bore between valve sections 34b,34c, and passage 46. Pumping column pressure is applied to the lower endof the master valve by way of bore 53, port 55, the pilot valve borebetween valve sections 34c, 34d, and passage 47. In order to permitdownward-movement of the master valve, the fluid in the lower end of thebore is discharged through the last mentioned bores and passages, by wayof which the lower end ofthe valve is put in communication with thepumping column pressure.

Upon movement of the master valve to its lower position, high pressurefluid is a plied to the upper pressure area 27 of t e piston by way ofport 43, the master valve bore between valve sections 356, 350, port 52and space 59. And during downward movement of the plunger by thepressure of operating fluid so applied, the spent fluid in the pistonchamber below the piston 23 previously utilized in moving the plunger onits up stroke, is discharged into the pumping column by way of space16,. pas- 5 sage 50, the master valve bore between valve sections 35a,35?), port 56 and passage 53. As previously stated, during the downstroke of the plunger, well li uid is taken upwardly therethrough into te pumping chamber past the foot valve 31 carried in the lower end of theplunger.

The pilot valve is also held or locked in its lower position bydifi'erential pressure applied to its opposite ends. Thus in Fig. 2,operating fluid pressure is applied to the lower end of valve section34d by way of the piston chamber, annular space 59, and passage 58. Theupper end of the pilot valve is exposed to the comparatively smallerpumping column pressure through passage 51 vwhich communicates with theassage through which spent operating uid is being discharged from thelower portion of the plunger chamber into the pumping 55 column ashereinabove described. The area of the upper end of the pilot valve isof course greater than the bottom pressure area 73 of the lower valvesection 34d, by the cross sectional area of valve operating rod 38. 1However, the pressure differential between the operating fluid andpumping column pressure will be suflicient to hold the pilot valve inraised position, in spite of the reduction of pressure area on the lowerend of section 340! by the valve rod.

The plunger itself of course serves as the primary mover of the valvemechanism. However, it will be apparent that the lunger will continueits movements in t e reverse directions until the pilot valve is fullymoved from one position to the other, before the application of thefluid pressure to the plunger will be reversed to move it in theopposite direction. And as will be further noted, this reverse ofoperating well fluid pressure against the plunger cannot occur until themaster valve changes position. Therefore the plunger is prevented fromstalling on a dead center due to the fact that it will continue itsmovement until the pilot valve is fully moved from one position to theother and to the point at which the master valve, as a result of theapplication thereto of pressure fluid controlled by the pilot valve, iscaused to change position and direct the high pressure fluid to areverse side of the plunger.

By virtue of the'application of difierential fluid pressures to oppositeends of the valves, it is assured that during the intervals ofengagement of lugs 68 and 69 on the valve operating rod by the plunger,the master valve and pilot valve will be securely held and substantiallylocked in their respective positions by the application of high pressurefluid. And as previously mentioned, this ability to lock the valves yfluid pressure is of particular advantage m that it eliminates thenecessity for use of additional mechanical valve locking devices forholding the pilot valve in position after havin been moved by theplunger.

T may, in some instances, particularly where a gaseous high pressureoperating fluid is belng used, prefer to discharge the spent operatingfluid from the plunger chamber to the well instead of the pumpingcolumn. In this case, bore 53 may communicate at its upper end with thewell through a suitable transverse passage, indicated by the dottedlines 74 in Fig. 2, instead of with the pumping column. As will beapparent, if passage 53 be led to the well instead of the pumpingcolumn, the pressure differentials on opposite ends of the master valveswill be between the operating fluid ressure and well pressure, insteadof the di erentials between operating fluid and pumping columnpressures. And similarly, the ressure differential applied to oppositeen of the pilot valve when the latter is in its raised position, willalso be between the operating fluid pressure and well pressure.

I claim 1. A fluid pressure operated well pump adapted to discharge thewell liquid upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel,a fluid pressure operated plunger in said barrel, means for moving saidplunger in one direction by high pressure fluid, said means including avalve erated by said plunger; to control the app ication of fluidpressure to the plunger, and

I pressure-and pum mg column ressure to opposite ends of said valve toho d the valve in position. a

2. 'A fluid ressure 0 embed well ump adapted to dlscharge t e well liquiupwardly into a pumping column, comprismg a plunger barrel, a fluidpressure operated plunger, in said' barrel, meansfor moving said lungerin one direction by high pressure fluid, said means including a valve 01 erated by said plunger; to control the app ication" of fluid pressureto the plunger, and means for alternately a plying the! high pressurefluid pressure an pumping column pressure to opposite ends of said valveto 2 old the valve 1n two positions.

- 3. A fluid pressure operated well pum adapted to discharge the wellliquid upwar 1y into a pumping column, comprising a fluid pressureoperate plunger'barrel, .a plunger 2 n said barrel, means for movingsaid plunger in one direction by high pressure fluid, said meansincluding a valve operated by said plunger; to control the ap licationof fluid pressure to the plunger, an means for alter- 80 nately applyindifferential fluid pressures, to opposite en s of said valve to hold thevalve in two positions.

4. A fluid pressure operated well pum adapted to discharge the wellliquid upwar 36 1y into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, afluid pressure operated plunger in said barrel, means for moving saidlunger in one direction by high pressure fluid, said means including avalve 0 40 erated by said plunger; to control the app ication of fluidpressure to the plunger, and means for alternately applying the highpressure fluid pressure to opposlte ends of said valve to hold the valvein position.

5. A fluid pressure operated well pump adapted to discharge the wellliquid upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, afluid pressure operated plunger in said barrel, means for moving saidplunger in one direction by high pressure uid, said means including avalve operated by said plunger; to control the application of fluidpressure to the plunger, and means for applying the high pressure fluidpressure and well pressure to opposite ends of said valve to hold thevalve in position.

6. A fluid pressure operated well ump adapted to discharge the wellliqui upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, afluid pressure operated plunger in said barrel, means for moving saidplunger in opposite directions by high pressure fluid, said meansincluding a valve operated by said lunger; to control the application offluid pressure to the plunger,

means for applying the high pressure fluid plunger barrel, a fluid andmeans for appl ing the high pressure fluid and pumping co umn ressuresto opposite ends' of said valve to old the valve in position.

7. A fluid pressure 0 erated well umpadapted to discharge t e well.liqui upwardly into a pumping column, compr' a plunger barrel, a fluidpressure operated plunger in said barrel, means for movin said plun erin opposite directions by big pressure uid, said means including a valvefor controlling the delivery of hi h pressure fluid to operate theplunger; and means for alternately applying the high pressure fluidpressure and well ressure to opposite ends of said valve to ho d thevalve in position.

I 8. A fluid ressure o erated well ump adapted to discharge t e wellliqui upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a ressure operatedplunger in said barrel, a va ve head above the plunger barrel, means fordeliverin high pressure operating fluid through said valve head to theplungerbarrel to move the lunger in one direction, said means inclu g avertically movable valve in said head and operated by said plunger, andmeans for holding said valve in one position by differ. ential fluidfpressures applied to opposing faces thereo i 9. A fluid pressureoperated well pum adapted to discharge the well liquid upwar ly into apumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, a pxlunger in said barre avalve head above t e plunger barrel, means for delivering high pressureoperating fluid through said valve head to the plunger barrel to'movethe piston in opposite directions, said means including a verticallymovable valve in said head operated by sald plunger to control the flowof fluid through said head; and means for alternately a plyindiflerential pressures to opposing aces 0% said valve to hold the valvein two positions.

10. A fluid pressure operated well ump adapted to discharge the wellliqui .upwardly into a pumping column, compfisin a plunger barrel, aplunger in said arre a valve head above the plunger barrel, means fordelivering high pressure operating fluid through said valve head to theplunger barrel to move the iston in opposite directions, said meansinclhding a vertically movable valve in said head operated by saidplunger to control the flow of fluid through said head; and means forapplying the high pressure fluid pressure to one end of said valve tohold the valve in position.

'11. A fluid pressure operated well pump adapted to discharge the wellliquid upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, alun er in said barrel, a; valve head above t e-p unger barrel, means fordelivering high pressure operating fluid through said valve head to theplunger barthrough said valvehead to the plunger barrel to move thepiston in opposite directions,

said means including a vertically movable valve in said head operated bysaid lunger to control the flow of fluid throug said head; and means foralternately a plying the high pressure fluid pressure an pumping columnpressure to opposite faces of said valve.

13. A fluid pressure operated well ump adapted to discharge thewell'llqui upwardly into a pumping column, comprlsmg a plunger barrel, aplunger in said arre a valve head above the plunger barrel, means fordelivering high pressure operating fluld through said valve head to theplunger barrel to move the piston in opposite directions, said meansincluding a pilot valve in said valve head operated b said plun er and afluid pressure operate master va ve controlled by said pilot valve, saidmaster valve controlling the delivery of operating fluid to the plunger,means for applying fluid pressure to one end of said pilot valve to holdthe valve in position, and means for alternately applying differentialfluid pressures to the opposite ends of said master valve.

14. A fluid pressure operated well ump adapted to dlscharge the wellliqui upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, aplunger in said barrel, a valve head above the plunger barrel, means fordelivering high pressure operating fluid through said valve head to theplunger barrel to move the piston in opposite directions, said meansincluding a pilot valve in said valve head operated by said plunger anda fluid pressure operated master valve controlled by said pilot valvesaid master valve controlling the delivery of operating fluid to theplunger, means for alternately appl ing high pressure fluid pressure toopposite flaces of said pilot valve, and means for alternately applyinghigh pressure fluid pressure to opposite ends of said master valve.

15. A fluid pressure operated well pump adapted to discharge the wellliquid upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, aplunger in said barrel,i.a valve head above the plunger barrel, meansfor delivering high pressure operating fluid through said valve head tothe plunger barrel to move the piston in one direction, said meansincludin a pilot valve in said valve head operated y said plunger and afluid pressure operated master valve controlled b said pilot valve,said'master valve contro ling the deliver of operating fluid to theplunger, means or alternately applying high pressure fluid pressurepumping column to opposite faces of said pi ot valve, and means foralternately applying high pressure fluid pressure pumpin column toopposite ends of said master va ve.

16. In a pump of the character described, the combination of a pumpbarrel having a medial bore, an upper bore of reduced diameter abovesaid medial bore, and a lower bore of still further reduced diameterbelow said medial bore, a hollow plunger mounted to reciprocate in thepump barrel, said hollow plunger, comprising a piston head adapted towork in said medial bore of the barrel, an upper plunger part of reduceddiameter extending upwardly from said piston-head and adapted to work inthe said reduced upper bore, whereby an upwardly facin annular area isprovided on the upper en of the said piston-head, a lower plunger partof reduced diameter extending downwardl from said piston-head andadapted to wor in the said reduced lower bore, whereby a downwardlyfacin annular area is provided on the lower end 0 the piston-head ofgreater extent than the upwardly facing annular area on the upper end ofthe iston-head, means for admitting fluid undhr pressure to the medialbore of the barrel above the piston-head, to move the plunger "on itsdown stroke, valve means for intermittently admittin fluid underpressure to the medial bore of t e barrel below the piston head to raisethe plunger on its up stroke, said valve means comprising a pistonoperated pilot valve and a fluid pressure operated master valvecontrolled by said ilot valve, and means for holding said va ves intheir respective positions by fluid pressure.

17. In a pump of the character described, the combination of a pumpbarrel having a medial bore, an upper bore of reduced di ameter abovesaid medial bore, and a lower bore of still further reduced diameterbelow downwardly facing annular area is provided on the lower end of thepiston-head of greater extent than the upwardly facing annular area onthe upper end of the piston-head,"

means for admitting fluid under pressure to the medial bore of thebarrel above the piston-head, to move the plunger on its down' stroke,valve means for intermittentlyadmitting fluid under pressure to themedial I bore of the barrel below the piston head to raise the plungeron its up stroke, said valve means comprising a piston operated pilotvalve and a fluid pressure operated master valve controlled by saidpilot valve, and means for alternately applying the plunger operating.fluid pressure to opposite ends of both said pilot and master valves.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 4th day of September, 1930.

ARTHUR e. GAGE.

